Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks' population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sevenoaks increased by 5.1%, from about 109,000 to 115,000.

The addition of almost 5,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sevenoaks was home to, on average, 2.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sevenoaks

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sevenoaks increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 13% of people in Sevenoaks are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sevenoaks

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.7% to 7.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Sevenoaks, but at a slower rate than in Dartford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Sevenoaks).

In Sevenoaks, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Dartford increased from 8.0% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Sevenoaks fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 73%.

Private renting in Sevenoaks increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sevenoaks, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.0% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sevenoaks, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sevenoaks

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the White ethnic groups remained close to 110,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 910 in 2001 to just under 2,100 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 850 to about 1,700 (from 0.8% to 1.5%).

Just over 850 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 260 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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